Mediterranean Cous Cous Salad

I was never a huge vegetable lover before I became vegan. I would eat the odd veggie here and there, but the thought of actually filling my plate full of vegetables just didn’t really do it for me.

For a while after becoming vegan, I literally had to force myself to eat (and try and enjoy) vegetables. Reminiscing on my meat eating days, I now couldn’t think of anything better than a plate piled high with fresh, crisp veggies!

Mediterranean vegetables were one of those things I never really liked pre-vegan, but now I can’t get enough of them! This recipe has become a household favourite, especially during the spring/summer months. The first time I made it was completely improvised, so naturally I had to try my hardest to recreate it (such a hard life…). Originally I used a plain tri-colour quinoa mix, but then I discovered Celebrate Health’s ‘tomato and basil’ packet quinoa. It’s a fantastic addition to the fresh basil, parsley and deliciously salty olives (my current addiction), so I recommend using that over plain quinoa (however either will do just fine!). This recipe serves 3-4 depending on portion sizes.

Ingredients:

1 large red capsicum

1 zucchini

1 eggplant

2 – 3 large tomatoes

1 red onion

3 – 4 large mushrooms (any kind)

1 – 2 big handfuls of olives

Fresh basil and parsley

1 packet Celebrate Health ‘tomato and basil’ quinoa

1/2 – 1 cup cous cous

1 tbsp Nuttelex (or any vegan butter)

Olive oil, salt and pepper

Method:

Prepare a hot oven and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Chop the capsicum, zucchini, eggplant and onion roughly, into bite size pieces (remember, they will shrink in the oven). Place onto baking sheet and coat with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes.

Chop the tomato and mushrooms, and add to the baking tray after the other veggies have been cooking for roughly 20 minutes.

When the vegetables start to look tender, a little crispy and have a strong aroma, take out of the oven and start to prepare the cous cous and quinoa. Allow veggies to cool.

Prepare cous cous and quinoa as per packets (but prepare in seperate pans).

Once the cous cous is done, add a tablespoon of Nuttelex, let it melt and then stir. Allow cous cous and quinoa to cool.